Downeast Restaurants
1. Friar’s Brewhouse Tap Room – 84 Main Street, Bucksport
Craft Brewery. Bakery. Restaurant. Taproom. Community Hub. Monastery. Certainly, a unique experience.
2. Hey Sailor – 25 East Main Street, Searsport
Tacos+. Art. Booze. Exceptional tacos and global street food in a mod 60’s vibe. Voted “Best of Maine” in 2022.
3. Fin & Fern – 25 Seabreeze Avenue, Stonington
Fin & Fern restaurant sits on the shore of Penobscot Bay on the island of Stonington, Maine. As you dine, watch lobster boats unload their daily haul and enjoy the sounds of seagulls and foghorns in the distance. The restaurant is a quick walk from downtown, where you’ll find quaint inns, fresh-brewed coffee, a variety of gift stores, a one-hundred-year-old theater, and Maine-inspired ice cream. Right next door is Isle au Haut Boat Services’ ferries and tours. As you return from a day of sightseeing on the water, stop in and enjoy a home-cooked meal in the Fin & Fern dining room or head to the upstairs bar for the sunset. Stonington harbor is the leading lobster port in the state of Maine and also lands local crab, mussels, clams, oysters, scallops, halibut, tuna, and more, all featured on the menu and accompanied by handmade pasta and sauces. Stonington and neighboring Deer Isle are accessible to the mainland by a beautiful suspension bridge. Just 30 minutes from Blue Hill and 90 minutes from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.
4. Blue Hill Coop – 70 South Street, Blue Hill
The Blue Hill Co-op is a cooperatively owned grocery store that specializes in selling local & organic foods. The Co-op curates a selection with quality, sustainability, and responsible sourcing in mind. They carry many specialty foods for various dietary needs, such as plant-based/vegan, gluten-free, keto, and FODMAP. The Bulk Department carries nearly four hundred different items, including grains, spices, medicinal herbs, teas and coffee, oils, nuts, seeds, snacks, soaps, and more. The onsite restaurant now serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and on-tap beer and wine. You can get made-to-order smoothies, paninis, burgers, kebabs, falafels, and more. The same favorite sandwiches, salads, and deli items can all be found in the Grab & Go, as well as a range of ready-made meals. ng room and bar is the winter home for locals and guests from away alike. it’s cozy, intimate and talk to your neighbor kind of tavern. During the summer it’s the coolest place around on a hot day being one of the only air-conditioned dining rooms in town. The second floor has a bar and newly renovated patio room with unprecedented views of the working harbor. The third floor is an open-air deck and bar with even wider water views and the thrill of dining outside. The Bistro cuisine is a not to be missed experience for food and drink. The Austrian Chef and co-owner Karin Guerin brings guests her worldly cuisine that will leave you with an I-can’t-wait-to-come-back experience every time. Featuring local Maine seafood, steaks and produce, our farm to table concept has offerings that range from numerous Tapas to Chef Karin’s renowned risottos.
5. Aragosta – 300 Goose Cove Road, Deer Isle
You will be glad you discovered this hidden away gem – and it is worth the effort to get there. Recently named “Best Waterfront Restaurant in Maine” by DownEast Magazine, Aragosta at Goose Cove sits among one of Maine’s most spectacular and pristine oceanfront locations. Devin Finigan is the proprietor and Executive Chef and has worked alongside such well known chefs as Thomas Keller (French Laundry and Per Se) and Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Jean-Georges).
7. Dennett’s Wharf – 15 Sea Street, Castine
Castine classic for over 25 years. Located in the heart of Castine’s maritime waterfront, Dennett’s is one of Maine’s best-known and best-loved restaurants.
8. Ironbound Restaurant – 1513 US Route One, Hancock
A casual Maine dining experience in an authentic, old world rusticator atmosphere.
9. Geddy’s – 19 Main Street, Bar Harbor
Iconic. Once a dingy and dangerous seaside saloon, Gerry “Geddy” Mitchell bought the rundown bar in 1974. He built the place into a world-famous destination with entertainers, including Bonnie Raitt, Arlo Guthrie, Wynton Marsalis, Taj Mahal and Los Lobos. Now, Geddy’s has been a favorite local spot for over 40 years.
10. The Pickled Wrinkle Café – 9 East Schoodic Drive, Birch Harbor
Go where the locals go! Situated just outside the Schoodic section of Acadia National Park, The PW serves a delicious fresh menu all year! Flame broiled Maine beef burgers and pizzas along with daily specials! Delicious craft cocktails and local canned brews now available packaged to go!
WHAT IS A PICKLED WRINKLE? Pickled Wrinkles are an old Downeast Maine Delicacy. They are large carnivorous sea snails, or whelks, which are pickled and marketed locally as Pickled Wrinkles. Unlike herbivorous periwinkles, which inhabit tidal zones, wrinkles are larger and inhabit areas below the tide line. Lobster fishermen find wrinkles in traps they haul from the ocean floor. In tough times, wrinkles were relied on to help feed Maine families, and pickling was a great way to preserve the protein packed morsels. At the Pickled Wrinkle, we strive to provide guests with local seafood and produce whenever possible. We have a diverse menu that includes local Pickled Wrinkles when available. Try one if you are brave enough!
11. The Burning Tree – 69 Otter Creek Drive, Mount Desert Island
A funky, charming restaurant with a huge, fun menu. It has earned its reputation over 30 years for sophisticated food that is worth seeking out.
12. Rose Eden Lobster – 864 State Highway 3, Mount Desert Island
Authentic Maine Lobster Shack. Basic – served the way seafood should be eaten – on a picnic table with lots of napkins!